Lexicon Contmaination

[ghinghapuss]

No: HPFGUIDX 84489

Hi Steve,
I'm going to have to disagree on what makes `canon' and to address 
some of your post. I'd like to address you last comment first:

Steve wrote:
<Snip> 
but honestly, it is extremely strong evidence indeed. <Snip>

Now me:
Extremely strong evidence is not `Canon' in my opinion.  I may be 
splitting hairs but when I use the Lexicon I assume that, unless 
otherwise stated, what I am reading is based directly from the books 
themselves.  Movie contamination is sited and I think Lexicon 
contamination, or are Lexicon assumptions based on extremely strong 
evidence should be sited too.  I have many times gone running back to 
my books to look up a page that has been quoted along with a 
statement, to find the statement is actually an assumption.  I don't 
wish to discourage assumption but as a Lexicon is a dictionary 
shouldn't the results be drawn from events that have taken place?  I 
will concede that a Lexicon is an ever-evolving entity, but when 
making guesses, even educated ones, where does one draw the line 
between assumption, theory and fiction?


Steve wrote:
> James is in Gryffindor. That's given in the book. It's on page 704 
> of the US edition of OP. Ron rumples his hair and Harry grins 
> because it reminds him "forcibly of another Gryffindor Quidditch 
> player...", which is a reference to James's actions Harry witnessed 
> in Snape's memory.
 
Now me:
This could easily be a assumption made by Harry who of course wants 
his father to be in his house.  Part of Harry's quest in the sage is 
him seeking to belong, searching for his parents and the family he's 
never had.  Harry has never assumed James to be anything other than a 
Gryffindor. 

Steve wrote:
> As for Lupin and Sirius, the conversation on page 170 (US) is the 
> most telling. Clearly from Sirius' comments, only one of the three 
> of them could have been made Prefect, and that one turned out to be 
> Lupin. If they were in different houses, Lupin's being made Prefect 
> wouldn't have precluded the others from getting a badge too. 

Now me:
`Only one of them could have been made a prefect' is your assumption 
based on the conversation that took place between Sirius, Lupin, 
Harry, Tonks, and Ginny.  What Sirius actually said was "No one would 
have made me a prefect, I spent too much time in detention with 
James.  Lupin was the good boy, he got the badge." (Page 170 OotP US 
edition.)  I understood that in reference to their ability, rather 
than the fact that only one from each house gets the badge.  If 
Sirius and James new how bad they had been in school, they knew they 
were not even in the running. So even if they were in different 
houses, within their circle there was only one who could ever have go 
the badge. Lupin. 


All that being said, I do want to congratulate you on a wonderful job 
on collating and displaying the huge amounts of info in the Harry 
Potter series and hope you will continue to do so. As I will continue 
to use and enjoy the Lexicon.

Your sincerely,
Mandy